Fakery leads to four arrests

Two allegedly stole pills; two others accused of fraud

KINGMAN - An employee at a doctor's office and her boyfriend have been arrested on felony charges of prescription fraud and forgery. Kingman police say the investigation shows the scam to obtain painkillers dates back two years.

Samatha Lynn Niemeyer, 26, of Kingman, was arrested Dec. 13 after Kingman police detectives spoke with staffers at a doctor's office in the 3700 block of Stockton Hill Road.

The employees reportedly told detectives they learned Neimeyer, a coworker, was possibly forging prescriptions for herself and her boyfriend, Brad Allen Morphew, 32. Detectives subsequently learned that she had allegedly done so since 2011, according to Deputy Police Chief Rusty Cooper.

"All of the prescriptions filled were for narcotic pain medications," said Cooper in an email.

He said about 500 pills were obtained after the pair filled at least 20 bogus prescriptions.

Niemeyer admitted her involvement, according to Cooper, and she was taken into custody without incident.

Morphew was not as docile. He reportedly tried to flee when police arrived at his workplace Tuesday. He was quickly apprehended and taken into custody.

In another KPD investigation, two people reportedly admitted they illegally charged more than $10,000 on a relative's credit card.

Vanessa Evelyn Bell, 26, and Joseph Thomas Colvin, 30, both of Kingman, were taken into custody at their home in the 3500 block of Butler Avenue on Wednesday. Each faces felony charges of fraudulent schemes and trafficking in stolen property.

According to Cooper, detectives began an investigation several months ago after the relative reported the fraudulent charges.

"The investigation led to Bell and Colvin," said Cooper in an email.

Unfortunately, it didn't lead to the recovery of what was allegedly purchased with the card.

"Most of the fraudulently obtained merchandise was sold or pawned," said Cooper. "A small amount of merchandise was recovered from the home."

Cooper said both Bell and Colvin admitted their respective involvement in the crime.